Demon's Souls Review
Demon’s soul is bleak and brutal RPG that pits your character in combat against a plethora of violent demons. You have soldiers who were formerly humans, guards with the head of Octopus’, skeletons wielding scimitars, flame creatures and monstrosities that carry all types of plagues and good old Death himself. The 5 different worlds that the game takes place in are split into sections, with each being guarded by a hideous monster boss. Every single thing in each world has one purpose, and one purpose only, to kill you. This often comes very quickly and without any kind of prior warning. The only place safe for you to go is a haven known as the Nexus, which is inhabited by lost souls. This is the central point from which you can enter any of the 5 worlds, you also upgrade or buy your weapons and abilities here, to try and lengthen the odds against you being wiped out.
This is simply one of the most sordid, mentally draining games in existence; no concession is made towards your mental well being. Those who have become ardent Demon Souls devotees have been compared to those to fall in love with violent sociopaths. Although this game has the best elements of hack and slash, it’s actually a weapons combat game. The slower pace is welcome, as is the ability to learn to use ranged attacks, miracles, magic, enchanted equipment and items that you have scavenged. All these give you many more options than simply plowing and chopping away.
Demon’s souls is one of the most strategic and tactical games of this genre that I have ever come across. You are pitted against enemies of the same stature, with access to the same weapons, on a one to one basis, making for some hellish battles. As you slowly work your way through the various levels you collect along the way a vast inventory of treasures and souls from the slain demons, these can then be used to buy yourself a bit of life, magic power, strength or life saving equipment.
It’s your choice entirely what you choose to fight with, whichever character you play as you can buy or scavenge and then use any item. While using a bow you have the ability to stalk enemies from a distance, gain a wand and you can cast spells, cure your health with a miracle if you are lucky enough to come across a talisman. You will find your favorite weapons and build up a working relationship with them.
The main thing that prevents this game from getting boring and stale is the unlimited scope for developing the different characters; this also prevents you from falling into a routine and ostracizing yourself from different, challenging options. You are forced constantly to alter your approach, both by choice and the vast variety of aggressive enemies that are thrown at you No singular strategy works against all of them.
You will die in Demon’s Souls, a lot, and lose the physicality of the body you are playing in, being reduced to a soul with about a 70% health bar. A ring found in the first world enables you to hang onto this shred of life until you defeat a boss monster to restore your body. Die a second time, and all the demon souls you’ve worked so hard to accumulate are taken from you. The only way to regain them is to battle your way back through the level until you find the bloodstain at the spot where you expired. Then you have to get out of there fast before your assailant gets you again. Suffer death a third time before you get back to the blood stain and your demons souls will never be seen again, a heartbreaking twist when you’ve worked so goddamned hard to get them in the first place.
So basically, every time you die you are back at the beginning. Infuriating? Yes. Devastating? Totally. Addictive? You bet it is!
